DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 171 



in autumn turn to a brilliant scarlet, and are at that season 

 highly ornamental. For the sake of these berries, this tree is 

 a great favourite with birds ; and in Germany it is called the 

 Vogel Beerbaum: i. e. bird's berry tree, and is much used by 

 bird catchers to bait their springs with. 



Twenty-five feet is about the average height of the Moun- 

 tain ash in this country. Abroad, it grows more vigorously; 

 and in Scotland, where it is best known by the name of the 

 Roan or Rowan tree, it sometimes reaches the altitude of 35 

 or 40 feet. The lower classes throughout the whole of Britain, 

 for a long time attributed to its branches the power of being 

 a sovereign charm against witches; and Sir Thomas Lau- 

 der informs us that this superstition is still in existence in 

 many parts of the Highlands, as well as in Wales. It is 

 probable that this tree was a great favourite with the Druids ; 

 for it is often seen growing near their ancient mystical cir- 

 cles of stones. The dairy maid, in many parts of England, 

 still preserves the old custom of driving her cows to pasture 

 with a switch of the roan tree, which she believes has the 

 power to shield them from all evil spells.* " Evelyn men- 

 tions that it is customary in Wales, to plant this tree in church- 

 yards ; and Miss Kent in her Sylvan Sketches, makes the fol- 

 lowing remarks : — " In former times this tree was supposed 

 to be possessed of the property of driving away witches and 

 evil spirits ; and this property is alluded to in one of the 

 stanzas of a very ancient song, called the Laidley Worm of 

 Spindleton^s Heughs. 



' Their spells were vain ; the boys return'd 



To the queen in sorrowful mood, 

 Crying that "witches liave no power 



Where there is roan-tree wood ? " 



' Lightfoot, Flora Scotica. 



